Symptoms of Narcolepsy

Symptoms of
narcolepsy
usually start during the teen or young-adult years. Very few people are younger than age 5 or older than age 50 when symptoms first occur. If you have narcolepsy, symptoms occur even if you have gotten an appropriate amount of sleep. Some people notice that their symptoms grow worse as they age. Some women notice improvement of their symptoms after
menopause.

If you have narcolepsy, you may notice any or all of the following symptoms:

Overwhelming daytime sleepiness

Uncontrollable sleep attacks—These involuntary episodes tend to last between 3–30 minutes. They may occur periodically throughout every day, but may also be brought on by certain triggers, such as:

Warm environment

Heavy meals

Boring and/or sedentary occupations

Cataplexy—A sudden and complete loss of muscle tone and strength. Cataplexy can occur at any time during the day and is often brought on by:

Intense emotion, such as anger or laughter

Stress

Being tickled

Orgasm

Eating a heavy meal

Sleep paralysis—A complete or partial inability to move or speak just as sleep or a sleep attack is beginning or ending

Hypnogogic hallucinations:

Hallucinations usually occur as sleep begins or ends, and while you are waking. They can be very disturbing.

They are usually visual images that you see vividly, though they don’t really exist.

They can also be tactile and auditory sensations.

Automatic behaviour

Episodes similar to sleepwalking that may happen during involuntary sleep episodes

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.